Improvement in modes of finishing shoe-soles



B. S. BRYANT.

Modes of Finishing Shoe-Soles.

N0. 140,241. Patentediune24,i873.

UNITED STATES PATENT BRADLEY S. BRYANT, OF HANSON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF FINISHING SHOE-SOLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,241, dated June 24,1873 application filed May 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRADLEY S. BRYANT, of Hanson, countyof Plymouth andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in the Modeof Finishing Boot and Shoe Soles, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to the mode of finish ing boots, shoes, slippers,8m; and it consists in a surfacing of flocked paper, applied by means ofa suitable cement to the sole or treading-surface of the shoe, so as togive it the appearance of buffed leather, and also to hide anyinequalities or imperfections which might render the article lessattractive or saleable.

It is customary in the general shoe manufacture to channel the sole tohide the sewing or peggin g, and finish it by scraping and rasping, togive it the smooth even surface desirable. This necessarily results inweakening the sole, causing a loss of substance, which impairs thedurability of the shoe. To avoid these results, but still to give theshoe a finished appearance, two modes have been heretofore adopted, viz:First, the sole or treadingsurface of the shoe has been covered with acoating of paper or textile fabric secured thereto by an adhesivecement; secondly, the sole of the shoe has been flocked by means of asuitable cement applied directly to the sole of the shoe and the surfacethen covered with a flock of wool, silk, cotton, or other material.Either of these two modes accomplishes the object, but both are more orless obj ectionable, the first, for the reason that the shoe does notpossess the accustomed finished appearance; the second, for the reasonthat considerable time is required for the flocked surface to dry andbecome ready for the market.

With the foregoing brief review of what has already been done, I willnow proceed to describe my improvements thereon, referring to theaccompanying drawing illustrating my invention, in which- Figure 1 is aside view of a boot, the sole being in longitudinal vertical section andFig. 2 is a plan view of the sole or treading-surface.

A represents the sole, of which Bis the ball, 0 the shank, and D theheel, the surface of each part being covered first with a layer orcement, and one that will not saturate or soak.

into the paper, is preferable. The cement is applied in a continuousfilm or layer, either to the surface of the sole or to the paper, or toboth, if desired. The paper is then pressed upon the sole, and made toadhere evenly and smoothly. The exposed surface of the paper is in turncovered with a continuous film or layer of cement of sufficientthickness to hold the flock, which-is then applied in the usual manner.The flock used may be of wool, silk, cotton, hair, or other suitablematerial. The second mode, which, for some reasons, may be considered aspreferable, is, to prepare the paper, by giving it a flocked surface, inthe following manner: A sheet of paper is coated on one side withwater-proof adhesive cement, of such a nature as will not soak into thepaper and injure its texture, and upon this film or layer of cement theflock of wool, hair, or other material is applied. The sheet so preparedmay be cut into suitable sizes and forms by means of dies or otherwise,and these forms applied to the shoe-sole by a layer or film of cement,as before mentioned; or the unflocked surface of the paper may be coatedwith an adhesive cement while in the sheet-form, or after it has beencut into shapes and sizes by (lies, and these forms afterward applied tothe shoe-sole, when required. In this latter form the coating or finishcan be used by the dealer, and applied to the soles of shoes and bootsthat have become soiled by handling and exposure in the shop or store,thus obviating a considerable loss from damaged stock.

The flock applied to the surface of the paper must always be in suchquantities and of such thickness as to entirely conceal the paper fromview, and leave an even continuous flocked surface.

Many advantages are gained by this mode FFICE.

of finishing, namely: In appearance and cheap- -ness, durability andsecurity against deterioration by exposure, and in rendering the articleneat and saleable.

I do not claim a coating of paper or textile fabric applied to thetreading-surface of a boot or shoe sole; neither do I claim a boot orshoe sole having acoating or covering of flock applied directly to thesurface of the sole; but

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A shoe-sole having itstreading-surface covered With a layer or sheet of paper, the exposedsurface of which is flocked, or covered

